Oakland: Man charged in pickax slaying of housemate

OAKLAND -- A man suspected of using a pickax to kill his 69-year-old housemate and trying to dismember her body has been charged with murder, authorities said Friday.

Jeff Girard, 43, is accused of killing Carole Wilson on Feb. 8 inside the home she owned in the 1700 block of 103rd Avenue. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to enter a plea Feb. 18.

Girard, who police said had lived at the house with Wilson for five years, was arrested after firefighters and police responded to a medical emergency call at the home about 11 a.m. Feb. 8 and saw major trauma to her body -- described as "mutilation and mayhem" in court documents.

According to police and court documents, Girard admitted heavily drinking the night before, to the extent that he "blacked out" and hit Wilson with the ax. Her injuries were fatal and Girard claimed he "panicked" and later attempted to "dismember Wilson's body but gave up and later had a friend call police," according to a probable cause statement filed by Officer Nick Calonge.